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Rebecca Bynoe

Darlington-based paramedic, Rebecca Bynoe, aged 28, joined NEAS as an apprentice in September 2012, aged 18 after leaving sixth form college. She’s half South American and lives with her dog Willow.

Q. What attracted you to the job?

A.  I always wanted to make a difference and help the community. Having come here straight from doing my A Levels, I feel like I've proved that you don't have to go straight to university from college to succeed in life.

Q. What brings you to work every day?

A. I love the unknown about my job, every job and every day is different, you just don't know what you're going to be faced with. The emergency services is just one big family, and your colleagues get you through the good and the bad times.  

Q. What is an average shift like?

A. An average shift can be exciting, emotional, and tiring. We are out attending to incidents from the moment we sign on until we sign off. But you have your crew mate and your colleagues by your side throughout the day.  

Q. What skills do you think people need to be able to do your job?

A. You need to be able to talk, which I’ve always been good at since school (I was always getting told off for talking haha!) But you’ve also got to be a team player, without being able to work as a team the job will fail. You’ve also got to be open minded and able to control your emotions to an extent because it's a job that definitely tests them!

Q. It can be a traumatic job at times, how do you look after yourself and what support do you get?

A. In this job we often see things we can’t unsee, and my colleagues are my back bone after a traumatic job because they understand what you go through. I also go to the gym to let out the stress and clear my head, or socialise with my friends and take my dog out. Oh I absolutely love a holiday, it's a great escape.

Q. What has it been like working through the pandemic?

A. I isolated due to being clinically vulnerable which I found hard, because I was told to do something I wasn't used to doing by staying at home 24/7 like the rest of the country. I really missed the interaction with my colleagues and patients.

Q. Where do you see your career heading?

A. I would love to specialise in critical care one day, but at the moment I’m still learning, every day’s a learning day in this job.

Q. How do you feel about being part of the BBC Ambulance show?

A. I was apprehensive at first but really enjoyed filming and having the chance to show the public how we do our jobs when we are with patients and the variety of jobs we go to, and the pressures we face. I loved every second of being involved, it was such a privilege.

Q. What impact do you hope the series will have in the North East?

A. I hope it shows what a great place the North East is and that we have the best banter in the UK, but also educates the public more on the emergency services they have supporting them

Q. What do you love about the North East?

A. I love how cheap the North East is and I love a Greggs pasty! It’s a great place to live and work.